Dunne backs medicinal cannabis trials

Mr Dunne told Q&A it would help the Government assess its effectiveness.

"It would be a really good thing if we could get clinical trials in New Zealand because that way we can work through what the formulations should be, what the product might look like and who the patients who could benefit might be," says Mr Dunne.

The issue has been raised by the CTU's Helen Kelly who has terminal lung cancer. She says patients shouldn't be turning to the black market for pain relief.

Mr Dunne says the main issue is whether pharmaceutical companies would be prepared to trial new products in New Zealand.